1. 22 Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018
Nitrogen Containing Secondary Metabolites from Endophytes of
Medicinal Plants and their Biological/Pharmacological Activities-
A Review
ABSTRACT
Endophytes are the microbes that live inside of a plant and colonise the
intercellular spaces of the plant tissues. Nitrogen containing compounds
have an important role in research through decades as a history in the
development of organic synthesis. Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and
an important component of all proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, cofac-
tors, signalling molecules, numerous plant secondary products and nec-
essary metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of en-
ergy. These compounds also occur in a diverse natural products and drugs
showing importance in many aspects of life and commercial processes. A
nitrogenous secondary metabolite obtained by endophytes originate from
various biosynthetic pathways belonging to different structural groups such
as alkaloids, amines, peptides, etc. These secondary metabolites show
promising potentiality and benefits in safety and human health. This re-
view covers diversity of nitrogenous secondary metabolites isolated from
endophytes associated with medicinal plants possessing biological/phar-
macological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral,
antimalarial, etc in the plant tissues from years 2008-2016.
Key words: Nitrogen, Endophytic fungi, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antibacte-
rial, Antimalarial.
Correspondence:
Ms. Smita K Puri
Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry, SET’s Col-
lege of Pharmacy, S. R. Nagar, Dharwad 580002, Karnataka, INDIA.
Phone no: 9986033439
E-mail id: smitamadagundi@gmail.com
DOI : 10.5530/srp.2018.1.5
Sys Rev Pharm. 2018;9(1):22-30
A multifaceted Review journal in the field of Pharmacy
Review Article
Smita Kishor Puri 1*
, Prasanna Vasantrao Habbu1
, Preeti Venkatrao Kulkarni2
, Venkatrao Hanumantrao Kulkarni2
1
Postgraduate, Department of Pharmacognosy, SET’s College of Pharmacy, S. R. Nagar, Dharwad 580002, Karnataka, INDIA.
2
Postgraduate, Department of Pharmacology, SET’s College of Pharmacy, S. R. Nagar, Dharwad 580002, Karnataka, INDIA.
INTRODUCTION
Nitrogen is an important component of living cells present in nucleic
acids, proteins, enzymes, cofactors, signalling molecules, numerous
plant secondary products and necessary metabolic processes involved
in the synthesis and transfer of energy. Plants require nitrogen through-
out their development. Plants containing large amount of nitrogen
produces nitrogenous secondary metabolites forming a part of their
structure. Plants obtain nitrogen from roots by nitrogen fixing bacteria
and deterioration of dead tissues by micro-organisms, thus promoting
plant growth.1
Nitrogen combines chemically with oxygen or hydrogen
to form various nitrogenous compounds which can be used by plants.
The organic nitrogenous compounds are formed from inorganic ni-
trogen compounds present in the environment by nitrogen assimila-
tion. These nitrogenous compounds are added to the soil as fertilizers
in the form of ammonium (NH4
+
) and nitrate (NO3
+
). Nitrogenous me-
tabolites are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom.
Nitrogen is a major constituent in almost drugs used in medicine. Nitro-
gen containing compounds have an important role in research through
decades as a history in the development of organic synthesis. Nitrogen
containing medicinal compounds has been used since centuries, as they
form the basis for many drugs such as taxol, campothecin, vincristine,
etc. These compounds occur in a diverse natural products and drugs
showing importance in many aspects of life and commercial processes,
from the industrial production of fertilizers to the building blocks of life.2
Endophyte is a microorganism that lives inside of a plant and colonise
the intercellular spaces of the plant tissues. They include organisms such
as fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes which spend its lifespan inside cel-
lular tissues for healthy host without producing any symptoms.3
They are
chemical synthesizers producing novel compounds that show numerous
pharmacological and biological activities.4
Mutualistic relation between
endophytes and host plants results in beneficiary for both,5
thus mutual
relationship, between taxonomy and ecology are being studied. Majority
of the secondary metabolites already discovered in plants, but micro-
organisms are also capable of producing more than 20000 biologically
active compounds, influencing the performance and survival of other
organisms.6
Many of these microbes producing active secondary me-
tabolites are involved in a host endophyte relationship and thus exhibit
various biological activities as antibiotic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, etc. Numerous secondary metabolites produced by various
endophytes possess unique structures belonging to alkaloids, glycosides,
benzopyranones, flavonoids, phenolic acids, quinones, steroids, xan-
thones, terpenoids, tetralones and others and bioactivities, potentially
useful.7
Alkaloids, non-protein amino acids, cyanogenetic glycosides,
amines, glucosinolates, alkamides, lecithins, peptides and polypeptides
are important group of secondary metabolites having nitrogen produced
by endophytes.
Secondary nitrogen is a commonly used in endophyte/host and plant
interactions for host plant growth, uptake by endophytes and demand
for synthesis of highly nitrogen containing compounds. Many of these
compounds are required for the growth of the plants in the environment.
Taxol, Campothecin, Vincristine, Phomoenamide, Aspergillusol A, Hel-
volic acid are some of the nitrogenous secondary metabolites obtained
from the different endophytes exhibiting various pharmacological activi-
ties.
Many attempts were made to isolate and identify various secondary me-
tabolites from endophytes to produce inexhaustible supply of bioactive
compounds which are used commercially. Changes in the conditions
of the culture can be explored by optimizing various biosynthetic path-
ways leading to the production of derivatives and analogues of novel
compounds.8
The increasing awareness of the secondary metabolites of
medicinal plants can be influenced by endophytic infection. These en-
dophytes may produce them on their own as that of plant or they may
also alter the metabolite produced by the plant. Hence, there can be vari-

2. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018 23
ability in the type of bioactive compounds which shows the possibilities
to produce some novel type of medicines that may give results against
some incurable diseases.9
In recent studies, attention has been given to
the biotransformation process of endophytes which acts as biocatalysts
in the chemical transformation of natural products and drugs are due
to their ability to modify chemical structures with a high degree of ste-
reo specificity and to produce known or novel enzymes that increase the
production of compounds of interest.10
This review article covers detailed information about nitrogen contain-
ing secondary metabolites isolated from endophytic microbes associated
with medicinal plants during the years 2008-2016. Chemical diversity of
these compounds and their potential biological/ pharmacological activi-
ties are also discussed.
NITROGEN CONTAINING ANTICANCER
METABOLITES
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and invasion into
normal tissue of various organs. In 2007, it was estimated that 7.6 mil-
lion people were killed around the world due to cancer. By 2050, the
annual death is may rise to 17.5 million, due to unavoidable reasons
such as population growth, aging, lifestyle, environmental factors and
carcinogenic agents. The existing drugs for treatment of cancer shows
no specific toxicity to proliferating normal cells, produce various side
effects and ineffective against many types of cancer.11
No availability of
new drugs or technologies for treating the disease, the cure of cancer
has been increased by diagnosing earlier and more precise treatments.12
Some of the examples of anticancer drugs obtained from medicinal
plants are Campothecin from Campotheca acuminate (Nyssaceae), vin-
blastine, vincristine from Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae), burseran
from Bursera microphylla (Burseraceae), colchicines, demecolcine from
Colchicum luteum (Liliaceae). Recently several secondary metabolites
from endophytes showing anticancer properties also have been investi-
gated. Following are some examples of the nitrogen containing second-
ary metabolites from endophytes cited, on the production of anticancer
agents and are shown in Table 1.
Vincristine (1) was the first reported metabolite of the endophytic fun-
gus Alternaria sp. from the phloem of Catharanthus roseus. Compound
1 was also produced from an endophytic Fusarium oxysporum from the
pholem of Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae). It is used as chemothera-
peutic agent in acute nephroblastoma and lymphoblastic leukemia. The
primary action of compound 1 is by interfering with microtubule forma-
tion and mitotic spindle dynamics, disruption of intracellular transport,
decreasing tumour blood flow, with consequence of anti-angiogenesis.13
New modified dipeptides, Trichodermamides A-C (2-4), were obtained
from the endophytic fungus Eupenicillium sp. from bark of Glochidion
ferdinandi (Phyllanthaceae). Compound 2 showed cytotoxic activity
against the human colorectal carcinoma HCT116 and human lung car-
cinoma A-549 with IC50
values of 0.68 and 4.28 μg/ml, respectively.14
Six
new tetramic acid derivatives, Penicillenols A1
, A2
, B1
, B2
, C1
, and C2
(5-
10) were identified from Penicillium sp. GQ-7, an endophytic fungus as-
sociated with Aegiceras corniculatum (Primulaceae). All the compounds
were screened for their cytotoxic effects on four cell lines by the MTT
method. Penicillenols A1
and B1
showed cytotoxicities against HL-60 cell
line with IC50
values of 0.76 µM and 3.20 µM.15
Cycloaspeptide A (11)
was isolated for the first time from the endophytic fungus Penicillium
janczewskii KM Zalessky, from the plant Prumnopitys andina (Podocar-
paceae). It exhibited low cytotoxicity towards human lung fibroblasts
with IC50
≥ 1000 µM.16
Penicidones A-C (12-14) were isolated from the
culture of Penicillium species, an endophytic fungal strain residing in
the stem of Quercus variabilis (Fagaceae). Compounds 12-14 exhibited
in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines SW1116, K562,
KB and Hela indicating that they are moderately cytotoxic with IC50
values between 21.1 and 90.8 μM.17
An ergoline alkaloid, 9 deacetoxy
fumigaclavine (15) was isolated from an endophytic fungus, Aspergil-
lus gumigatus obtained from the stem of cynodon dactylon (Poaceae). It
showed cytotoxicity against K562 cell lines with an IC50
of 3.1 mM.18
Two
indole alkaloids fumitremorgins B (16) and C (17) were produced by the
endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. FL25 from Ficus carica (Moraceae).19
Cochliodinol (18) and isocochliodinol (19) were isolated from an endo-
phytic fungus Chaetomium species which resides in the stem of Salvia of-
ficinalis (Lamiaceae). Compound 18 showed potent cytotoxicity with an
EC50
of 7.0 mg/ml.20
Campothecin (20) a pentacyclic quinoline alkaloid
was isolated from endophytic fungi entrophosphora associated with the
inner bark of the plant Nothapodytes foeatida (Icacinaceae). This is fol-
lowed by the isolation of campothecin from seed endophyte Neurospora
crusa of Campothecta accumalata (Cornaceae). Campothecin and its two
analogues viz 9 methoxy campothecin (21) and 10 hydroxy campothecin
(22) were found to be isolated from an endophytic fungus, Fusarium so-
lane of campthecta accumalata.21
The mechanism involved in cytotoxoci-
ty was found to be by inhibition of DNA topo isomerase I enzyme.22
They
were tested for cytotoxic activity against humans in lung cancer (A549),
liver cancer (hep 2), ovarion cancer (OVCAR-5) cell lines. Commonly
used anticancer drug, Taxol (23) (Paclitaxel), a diterpene taxane, was iso-
lated from the bark of Pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia for the first time.
It showed activity against a series of human solid tumor xenografts in-
cluding CX-1 colon and MX-1 breast xenografts. Taxol was also isolated
from the fungal endophyte A. alternata var. monosporus obtained from
the inner bark of Taxus yunnanensis (Taxaceae). Compound 23 was also
produced by an endophytic fungus, Fusarium redolens, isolated from Hi-
malayan yew.23
Till now, 20 genera of endophytic fungi were screened
to produce paclitaxel. Some of them are Alternaria alternate TPF6 from
Taxus chinensis var. mairei, Aspergillus fumigatus EPTP-1 Podocarpus
sp,24
Aspergillus niger var. taxi HD86-9 Taxus cuspidate,25
Botryodiplodia
theobromae BT115 Taxus baccata,26
Botrytis sp. XT2
Taxus chinensis var.
mairei. Four new quinazolinone alkaloids, Aniquinazolines A-D (24-27),
were isolated and identified from the culture of Aspergillus nidulans MA-
143, an endophytic fungus obtained from the leaves of marine mangrove
plant Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). They exhibited potent brine
shrimp toxicity with LD50
values of 1.27, 2.11, 4.95 and 3.42 μΜ, respec-
tively.27
The structures of potent anticancer metabolites from endophytes
are depicted in Figure 1.
NITROGEN CONTAINING ANTI-BACTERIAL
METABOLITES
Infectious diseases caused by microbes are major health problems in so-
ciety. The impact is large in developing countries due to the unavailabil-
ity of medicines and widespread drug resistance. The incidence of drug-
resistant pathogens has drawn the attention of the pharmaceutical and
scientific communities towards studies on the potential antimicrobial
activity of plant derived substances. The increasing problem of microbial
resistance has become severe and the search for the use of antimicrobial
drugs in the future is still uncertain. Antimicrobial resistance has been a
major health issue and still presents threat to health care system globally.
Studies have shown that microbes have developed resistance to antibiot-
ics through various molecular mechanisms such as prevention of access
to drug targets and modification of the drug.28
Antimicrobial metabolites
are low-molecular-weight organic compounds made by microorganisms
to protect plant from outer invade, that are active at low concentrations
against other microorganisms, and are the most bioactive natural prod-
ucts isolated from endophytes.8
Search for new antimicrobial agents is
needed due to the infections and diseases are global problems causing
due to drug-resistant pathogens. Endophytes, by producing the second-

3. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
24 Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018
ary metabolites show resistance mechanism to overcome pathogenic
invasion. Hence, studies demonstrated isolation of large number of anti-
microbial compounds from endophytes, belonging to several structural
classes like alkaloids, peptides, quinines and terpenoids. Asperfumoid
(28) a new alkaloid, was isolated from an endophytic fungus Aspergillus
fumigatus CY018, associated with Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae). Com-
pound 28 inhibited the growth of Candida albicans (CA) with MIC value
of 75 μg/ml. It was also isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium
species, from the leaves of Hopea hainanensis (Dipterocarpaceae) as it
inhibited the growth of CA with IC50
values of 20 and 25 μg/ml respec-
tively.29
A bioactive compound, 7-amino-4-methyl coumarin (29) was
isolated from endophyte Xylaria sp isolated from Ginkgo biloba (Gink-
goaceae). Compound 29 showed strong antibacterial and antifungal
activities in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 16
μg/ml. It was the first coumarin metabolite to show antimicrobial activ-
ity.30
Phomoenamide (30) and Phomonitroester (31) were obtained by
an endophytic fungi Phomopsis species (PSU-D15), isolated from leaves
of Garcinia dulcis (Cluciaseae). Compound 30 showed anti-microbial
activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) H37Ra with a MIC
value of 6.25 μg/ml.31
Two new metabolites, Cyclo (Pro-Thr) (32) and
cyclo (Pro-Tyr) (33) produced by the fermentation broth of endophytic
fungus Penicillium species isolated from mangrove plant Acrostichum
aureurm showing antibacterial activity.32
Polyketide amino acids derived
antibiotics, Pyrrocidines A (34) and B (35), were obtained from endo-
phytic fungi Acremonium zeae residing in Zea maize (maize kernals).
They exhibited antimicrobial activity against microbial pathogens caus-
ing seedling blights and stalk rots. Compound 34 showed anti-bacterial
activity against Bacillus mojavensis and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF)
with MIC values of 1-2 µg/ml.33
Three new indolosesquiterpenes namely
Xiamycin B (36), Indosespene (37) and Sespenine (38) were isolated
from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. HKI0595, a bacterial endo-
phyte isolated from mangrove tree, Kandelia candel (Rhizophoraceae).
Both exhibited antimicrobial activities against several Gram-positive
and Gram-negative bacteria reveling multi-resistance34
. Tenuazonic acid
(39) was isolated from Alternaria alternata SVJM015, residing in the
leaves of Indigofera enneaphylla (Poaceae). It showed activity against MT
with MIC value for 250 μg/ml.35
(3,1″-didehydro-3[2″(3″,3″-dimethyl-
prop-2-enyl)-3″-indolylmethylene]-6-methyl piperazine-2,5-dione)
(40) is tryp-alanine derived cyclic dipeptide containing an indole and a
diketopiperazine moiety which was isolated from the culture medium of
Penicillium chrysogenum, an endophytic fungus of the mangrove plant
Porteresia coarctata (Poaceae). Compound 40 showed significant anti-
bacterial activity against Vibrio cholera (VC) (MCM B-322), a pathogen
causing cholera in humans.36
Four ansa macrolides or ansamycins, Di-
vergolides A–D (41-44), were isolated from a bacterial endophyte Strep-
tomyces sp. HKI0576 of the mangrove tree Bruguiera gymnorrhizain
(Rhizophoraceae). Compound 41 showed the strongest activity against
Mycobacterium vaccae (MV) with IC50
values ranging from 1.0-2.0
µM.37
The structures of potent antibacterial metabolites are depicted in
Figure 2.
NITROGEN CONTAINING ANTIFUNGAL
METABOLITES
The functioning of invasive fungal infections increases during can-
cer chemotherapy, organ transplantation and allogeneic bone marrow
transplantation. The use of synthetic antifungal agents against plant and
human diseases has created awareness among the researchers world-
wide, and thus much of the research areas are focused on development
of novel, potent and green principle based antifungal agents using me-
dicinal plants, owing to their different mode of action, different target
sites with minimized side effects than the conventional available drugs.38
However, the availability of antifungal agents for the treatment of vari-
ous life threatening fungal infections is less so the new drugs should be
made available in the market; the development of protection to anti-
fungal drugs has become increasingly superficial, especially in patients
with long term treatment. Microbial natural products have been an al-
ternative natural cause for the isolation of unique molecules for various
therapeutic applications.39
Many nitrogen containing metabolites from
endophytes are reported to possess antifungal activity.
CurvularidesA–E(45-49),arethefive-hybridpeptide-polyketides,which
were obtained from the endophytic fungus Curvularia geniculata, isolat-
ed from the limbs of Catunaregam tomentosa (Rubiaceae). Compound 45
showed most significant antifungal activity against Candia albicans than
other compounds.40
3-methylcarbazole (50) and 1-methoxy-3-meth-
ylcarbazole (51) were obtained from Streptomyces sp. LJK109 from Al-
pinia galanga (Zingiberaceae). Both the compounds showed antifungal
activities with MIC of 30 to 240 µg/ml.41
A chlorinated benzophenone
alkaloid, Pestalachloride A (52) was obtained from Pestalotiopsis adusta,
an endophytic fungus of the unknown Xinglong Chinese tree stem. The
Compound 52 showed antifungal activity against the plant pathogens
such as Gibberella zeae (anamorph F. graminearum), Verticillium albo-
atrum and Fusarium culmorum.42
A new compound KL-4 (53) was iso-
lated from the fungal endophytic Aspergillus species of seeds of Gloriosa
superba (Colchicaceae) and was subjected to antimicrobial and antican-
cer activities. It showed broad spectrum as antifungal with IC50
value of
30 μg/ml.43
Chaetoglobosin A (54), Chaetoglobosin D (55), Chaetoglo-
bosin G (56), Chaetoglobosin R (57) were isolated from fungal endo-
phyte Chaetomium globosum No. 04 inhabited in medicinal plant Ginkgo
biloba (Ginkgoaceae). These antifungal metabolites were active against
the phytopathogenic fungi Rhizopus stolonifer (RS) and Coniothyrium
diplodiella (CD)0.44
12 β-hydroxy-13α-methoxy verruculogen TR-2 (58)
and 3-hydroxy fumiquinazoline A (59), were isolated from the fermenta-
tion broth of Aspergillus fumigatus LN-4, an endophytic fungus isolated
from the stem bark of Melia azedarach (Meliaceae). Compounds 58 and
59 exhibited antifungal activities against some phytopathogenic fungi
(Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum
gloeosporioides, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, Fu-
sarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, and Gibberella saubinettii). Com-
pound 58 exhibited antifungal activities with MIC values of 6.25–50 μg/
ml.45
All the compounds showed good antifungal activities as shown in
Table 1 and the structures are listed in Figure 3.
NITROGEN CONTAINING ANTIVIRAL
METABOLITES
The emergence of resistance and multi-resistance against available drugs,
the side effects and high cost of current therapies as well as the Hepatitis
Immuno Virus/AIDS epidemic and AIDS associated opportunistic in-
fections, such as cytomegalovirus and polyoma virus, made the develop-
ment of novel antiviral drugs a central priority. Antiviral metabolites are
the fascinating compounds from endophytes for inhibition of viruses.
Some of these metabolites found to be promising against H1
N1
, influenza
and other virus infections (Table 1).
Xiamycin A (60), a novel indole sesquiterpene, produced by a bacte-
rial endophyte Streptomyces sp. GT2002/1503, isolated from the stem of
mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Rhizophoraceae). Compound
60 exhibited moderate antiviral activities against HIV. It specifically
blocked CCR5 (R5) tropic HIV-1 while it showed no effect on CXCR4
(X4) tropic HIV-1.46
Tricyclic sesquiterpenoids, Brasilamides A-D (61-
64) were isolated from cultures of the plant endophytic fungus Para co-
niothyrium brasiliense. Verkley (M3–3341), isolated from branches of
Acer truncatum (Sapindaceae). Compound 61-64 showed modest inhibi-
tory effects on HIV-1 replication in C8166 cells.47
Eight isoindolone de-

4. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018 25
Figure 1a: Nitrogen containing anticancer metabolites from plant
endophytes.
Fig 2a: Nitrogen containing anti-bacterial metabolites from
plant endophytes.
Figure 1b: Nitrogen containing anticancer metabolites from plant
endophytes
Figure 2b: Nitrogen containing anti-bacterial metabolites from
plant endophytes.

5. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
26 Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018
Figure 3: Nitrogen containing Antifungal metabolites from plant
endophytes.
Figure 4a: Nitrogen containing antiviral metabolites from plant
endophytes.
Figure 4b: Nitrogen containing antiviral metabolites from plant
endophytes.
Figure 5: Nitrogen containing antimalarial metabolites from
plant endophytes.

6. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018 27
Table 1: Medicinal plants producing nitrogenous secondary metabolites from endophytes and their pharmacological activity.
Sl no Name of the Medicinal Plants Endophytic organisms/species Nitrogen containing secondary
metabolite
Reported activity Ref
1 Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) Mycelia sterilia Vincristine (1) Anticancer 13
2 Glochidion ferdinandi (Phyllanthaceae) Eupenicillium sp Trichodermamides A- C (2-4) Anticancer 14
3 Aegiceras corniculatum (Primulaceae) Penicillium sp. GQ-7 Penicillenol A1- A2 (5-6)
Penicillenol B1- B2 (7-8)
Penicillenol C1- C2 (9-10)
Anticancer 15
4 Prumnopitys andina (Podocarpaceae) Penicillium janczewskii K. M.
Zalessky,
Cycloaspeptide A (11) Anticancer 16
5 Quercus variabilis (Fagaceae) Penicillium sp Penicidones A-C (12-14) Anticancer 17
6 Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae) Aspergillus gumigatus 9 deacetoxy fumigaclavine (15) Anticancer 18
7 Ficus carica (Moraceae) Alternaria sp. FL25 Fumitremorgins B (16)
Fumitremorgins C (17)
Anticancer 19
8 Salvia officinalis (Lamiaceae) Chaetomium species Cochliodinol (18)
Isocochliodinol (19)
Anticancer 20
9 Nothapodytes foetida (Icacinaceae)
Campotheca acuminate (cornaceae)
Entrophosphora
Neurospora crusa
Fusarium solane
Campothecin (20)
9 methoxy campothecin (21)
10 hydroxy campothecin (22)
Anticancer 21,22
10 Taxus yunnanensis (Taxaceae)
Himalayan yew
A. alternata Fusarium redolens, Taxol (23) Anticancer 23
11 Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae) Aspergillus nidulans MA-143 Aniquinazolines A–D (24-27) Anticancer 27
12 Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae) Aspergillus fumigatus CY018 Asperfumoid (28) Antibacterial 29
13 Ginkgo biloba L (Ginkgoaceae) Xylaria sp 7-amino-4-methyl coumarin (29) Antibacterial 30
14 Garcinia dulcis (Roxb.) Kurz.
(Clusiaceae)
Phomopsis sp. PSU-D15 Phomoenamide (30)
Phomonitroester (31)
Antibacterial 31
15 Acrostichum aureurm Penicillium sp. Cyclo(Pro-Thr) (32)
Cyclo (Pro-Tyr) (33)
Antibacterial 32
16 Zea maize Acremonium zeae Pyrrocidines A-B (34-35) Antibacterial 33
17 Kandelia candel (Rhizophoraceae) Streptomyces sp. HKI0595 Xiamycin B (36)
Indosespene (37)
Sespenine (38)
Antibacterial 34
18 Indigofera enneaphylla L. (Poaceae) Alternaria alternata SVJM015 Tenuazonic acid (39) Antitubercular 35
19 Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) (Poaceae) Penicillium chrysogenum, (MTCC
5108),
3,1”-didehydro-3[2”(3”,3”-dimethyl-
prop-2-enyl)-3”-indolylmethylene]-6-
methyl pipera-zine-2,5-dione (40)
Antibacterial 36
20 Bruguiera gymnorrhizain
(Rhizophoraceae)
Streptomyces sp. HKI0576 Divergolides A–D (41-44) Antibacterial 37
21 Catunaregam tomentosa (Rubiaceae) Curvularia geniculata Curvularides A–E (45-49) Antifungal 40
22 Alpinia galanga a (L.) (Zingiberaceae) Streptomyces sp. LJK109 3-methylcarbazole (50)
1-methoxy-3-methylcarbazole (51)
Antifungal 41
23 Xinglong Chinese tree Pestalotiopsis adusta Pestalachloride A (52) Antifungal 42
24 Gloriosa superba (Colchicaceae) Aspergillus sp. KL-4 (53) Antifungal 43
25 Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae) Chaetomium globosum No.04 Chaetoglobosin A (54)
Chaetoglobosin D (55)
Chaetoglobosin G (56)
Chaetoglobosin R (57)
Antifungal 44
26 Melia azedarach (Meliaceae) Aspergillus fumigatus LN-4 12β-hydroxy-13α-methoxyverruculogen
TR-2(58)
3-hydroxyfumiquinazoline A (59)
Antifungal 45
27 Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
(Rhizophoraceae)
Streptomyces sp. GT2002/1503 Xiamycin A (60) Antiviral 46

7. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
28 Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018
28 Acer truncatum Bunge (Sapindaceae) Para coniothyrium brasiliense.
Verkley (M3–3341)
Brasilamides A-D (61-64) Antiviral 47
29 Aegiceras corniculatum (Primulaceae) Emericella sp. (HK-ZJ) Merimidine A (65)
Emerimidine B (66)
Emeriphenolicin A-F (67-72)
Antiviral 48
30 Xylocarpus granatum (Meliaceae) Jishengella endophytica 16111 Perlolyrine (73)
1-hydroxy-β-carboline (74)
Antiviral 49
31 Vochysia guatemalensis (Vochysiaceae) Codinaeopsis gonytrichoides Codinaeopsin (75) Antimalarial 53
32 ---- Pestalotiopsis sp. (BRIP 39872 Pestalactams A-C (76-78) Antimalarial 54
33 --- Trichothecium roseum Trichomides A-B (79-80) Immunosuppressive 55
34 Cistanche deserticola
(Orobanchaceae)
Penicillium chrysogenum No. 005 Chrysogenamide A (81) Neurocyte
protection
56
Figure 6: Nitrogen containing immunosuppressive metabolites from
plant endophytes.
Figure 7: Nitrogen containing miscellaneous metabolites from plant
endophytes
rivatives, Merimidine A (65), Emerimidine B (66), Emeriphenolicin A-F
(67-72) were isolated from endophytic fungus Emericella sp. (HK-ZJ)
associated with the inner bark of the mangrove plant Aegiceras cornicu-
latum (Primulaceae). Compound 66 exhibited anti-influenza and antivi-
ral (H1
N1
) activities using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay.48
Perlolyrine (73) and 1-hydroxy-β-carboline (74) were isolated from the
fermentation broth of an endophytic actinomycetes Jishengella endo-
phytica 16111, present in the root of the mangrove plant, Xylocarpus
granatum (Meliaceae). Compound 74 exhibited moderate anti-H1
N1
virus activity .they showed anti-influenza A (H1
N1
) virus activity with
the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50
) and selectivity index
(SI) value of 38.3μg/ml.49
Figure 4 shows important antiviral metabolites
from endophytes.
NITROGEN CONTAINING ANTIMALARIAL
METABOLITES
Malaria has a major health threat in developing countries and yearly
more than 200 million new malaria cases are reported,50
emphasising the
urgent need for new drugs against malaria. In India, its management is
challenging due to the huge population and large geographical area by
rapid growth51
and the resistance developed by the malaria parasite.52
Antimalarial metabolites obtained from endophytes may come up with
the need. A new tryptophan polyketide hybrid, Codinaeopsin (75) was
obtained from endophytic fungi Codinaeopsis gonytrichoides present in
Vochysia guatemalensis, (Vochysiaceae) a white yemeri tree collected in
Costa Rica. Compound 75 is active against 3D7 strain of Plasmodium
falciparum, with an IC50
value of 2.3 μg/ml.53
Fermentation culture from
the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. (BRIP 39872) from Melaleuca
quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) yielded three novel caprolactams, Pestalac-
tams A-C (76-78). Compounds 76 and 78 were tested against two dif-
ferent strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 and
Dd2) and both the compounds displayed antimalarial activity, with 16-
41% parasite growth inhibition achieved at 25 µM.54
The structures of
antiviral metabolites from endophytes are depicted in Figure 5.
NITROGEN CONTAINING
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE METABOLITES
The immunomodulatory compounds are divided into immunosuppres-
sive and immunoregulatory drugs. Many of them have been obtained
from endophytes from plants. Emerging of new diseases as autoimmune
disorders, use of immunosuppressive drugs in the market has been in-
creased. Immunosupressive drugs are used to prevent allograft rejection
in transplant patients and to treat auto immune diseases such as rhema-
toid arthritis and insulin dependent diabetes. As a result, researchers are
focusing on the production of such drugs from the alternative source as
endophytes.
Trichomides A (79) and B (80), two new cyclodepsipeptides were iso-
lated from the endophytic fungus Trichothecium roseum. Trichomide A
has immunosuppressive effect more selectively than cyclosporine A. It

8. Smita et al.: Nitrogen containing secondary metabolites from endophytes
Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 9, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2018 29
was found that trichomide A decreases the expression of Bcl-2, increases
the expression of Bax, and has a small or negligible effect on the expres-
sions of p-Akt, CD25, and CD69 as depicted in Table 1.55
The structures
are listed in Figure 7.
NITROGEN CONTAINING METABOLITES WITH
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Compounds bearing antioxidant activity are effective against damage
caused by reactive oxygen species and oxygen-derived free radicals,
contributing to numerous pathological effects, such as DNA damages,
carcinogenesis, and cellular degeneration. Chrysogenamide A (81), a
new member of the macfortine group of alkaloids, was identified from
Penicillium chrysogenum No. 005, an endophytic fungus associated with
Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae). It exhibited a neurocyte pro-
tection effect against oxidative stress-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y
cells.56
Other activities such as molluscicidal activity of endophyte JJ18
from Pseudolarix kaempferi Gord was also reported.57
CONCLUSION
The objective of this paper is to review the diversity of nitrogenous sec-
ondary metabolites from endophytes with various biological/pharmaco-
logical activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral,
antimalarial, etc in the plant tissues. This review contains 81 nitrogenous
compounds with various activities against plant and human pathogens,
produced by endophytes inhabiting in various medicinal plants. Endo-
phytes have the evidence of producing same or novel secondary metabo-
lites with a wide-range of pharmacological activities which shows poten-
tial use in agricultural, industrial and medical areas. Thus, nitrogenous
secondary metabolites produced by endophytes originate from various
biosynthetic pathways belonging to different structural groups such as
alkaloids, amines, peptides, etc. Endophytes producing bioactive natural
compounds have shown promising potential and usefulness concerns for
human health and safety. Modern biotechnology, as genetic engineer-
ing, metabolic technology and microbial fermentation process, showed
advantages to understand and manipulate the importance of microor-
ganism resources making beneficial for the mankind. However, there is
need to understand and discover about the host/entophyte relationship
before utilizing endophytes in the discovery of medicinally important
compounds. In conclusion, a more comprehensive understanding of the
biochemistry, genetics and biology of endophyte and host, may lead to
new opportunities for developing medicinally important products to al-
leviate various human ailments.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are thankful to the Principal, Soniya Education Trust’s Col-
lege of Pharmacy, Dharwad, for encouragement and support. Authors
are also thankful to the librarians of SET’s College of Pharmacy, Dhar-
wad and Karnatak University, Dharwad for providing the necessary digi-
tal library facilities for review of literature.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None
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